WSP USA

WSP USA

Company type	Division of WSP Global
Industry	Engineering, design, consulting
Predecessor	Parsons Brinckerhoff
Founded	January 1, 1885 (1885-01-01) in New York City, United States
Founder	William Barclay Parsons
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Lewis Cornell (President and CEO)
Products	Strategic consulting, planning, construction management, energy, infrastructure, community development services
Number of employees	14,000 (U.S. division)
Parent	WSP Global
Website	www.wsp.com/en-US/who-we-are/wsp-usa

WSP USA, previously known as Parsons Brinckerhoff, stands as a prominent American multinational company specializing in engineering and design, with expertise in strategic consulting, planning, construction management, energy, infrastructure, and community development. It functions as a division of WSP Global, a Canadian professional services organization.

Recognized by Engineering News Record as one of the leading U.S.-based engineering and design firms—ranking #10 in 2013 and rising to #7 by 2020—WSP USA offers an extensive array of services, including strategic advisory, program oversight, engineering solutions, construction management, and ongoing operations and maintenance. The firm employs around 14,000 experts distributed among nearly 150 offices worldwide, with its headquarters located at One Penn Plaza in New York City. Lewis Cornell holds the position of President and CEO for the U.S. branch.

On October 31, 2014, Parsons Brinckerhoff was acquired as a fully owned independent subsidiary by WSP Global and initially rebranded as WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff before adopting the WSP name in 2017. As part of the WSP Global network, WSP USA contributes to a worldwide workforce totaling approximately 31,500 employees across 500 offices in 39 countries.

History

Established in 1885 in New York City by civil engineer William Barclay Parsons, the company quickly gained prominence through its foundational projects. Among its early achievements were the design of the original IRT line for the New York City Subway system (launched in 1904) and the construction of the Cape Cod Canal (completed in 1914). The arrival of Henry M. Brinckerhoff in 1906 brought specialized knowledge in electric railways; he also co-developed the third rail technology.

Parsons Brinckerhoff’s extensive project portfolio highlights its significant role and technical expertise in infrastructure development: including the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel (1930); Antwerp’s Scheldt Tunnel (1933); Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge on Cape Cod (1935); Garden State Parkway (1957); Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (1957); Pell Bridge in Rhode Island (1969); Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities (1980); Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 Maryland (1980); Cumberland Gap Tunnel at the Tennessee/Kentucky border; Hawaii’s H-3 Highway (1997); Kuwait’s Sabiya Power Station (2000); along with numerous rapid transit systems such as San Francisco BART (1972), Atlanta MARTA (1979), Singapore MRT (1987), Taipei Metro (1996), and Caracas Metro (1983).

In October 2009, Parsons Brinckerhoff became a wholly owned subsidiary following its acquisition by Balfour Beatty plc. The purchase of Halsall Associates by Balfour Beatty in October 2010 further enhanced Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Canadian presence through this subsidiary.

This legacy reflects the firm’s strategic influence within infrastructure engineering and its continuous expansion through acquisitions and international operations.

Acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff by WSP Global

On September 3, 2014, WSP Global revealed its intention to acquire Parsons Brinckerhoff from Balfour Beatty plc for US$1.24 billion. The transaction was finalized on October 31, 2014, making Parsons Brinckerhoff a fully owned subsidiary of WSP Global. Subsequently, on January 10, 2017, the Parsons Brinckerhoff brand was phased out and incorporated into WSP Global’s identity.

Following this acquisition, WSP purchased Louis Berger Group in 2018 for $400 million and integrated Louis Berger's U.S. operations into WSP USA. Over the ensuing two years, WSP USA broadened its environmental consulting expertise through acquisitions of Ecology & Environment (E & E) in 2019 and LT Environmental in 2020.

In 2021, WSP significantly enhanced its environmental service offerings by acquiring Golder Associates for $1.5 billion, establishing one of the largest global firms specializing in environmental consulting. In 2022, WSP further expanded its market reach and service capabilities by acquiring Wood PLC’s Environment & Infrastructure Solutions division.

Current projects

WSP is actively involved in significant infrastructure developments, such as the Long Island Rail Road's East Side Access project connecting to Grand Central Terminal in New York City, which is projected to open in December 2022. The firm is also playing a key role in the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, anticipated to be finalized in 2022, and is leading the engineering efforts for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Airfield Expansion, aiming for completion within the same year.

Other ongoing initiatives include the construction of the Southwest End-Around Taxiway at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, expected to be finished by 2021, as well as an updated master plan for San Antonio International Airport, which commenced in 2018. These projects highlight WSP’s prominent position and competitive edge in delivering large-scale transportation infrastructure across the United States.

Controversies

Parsons Brinckerhoff, collaborating with competitor firm Bechtel, was connected to the problematic Big Dig initiative in Boston. Designed to replace an elevated highway with an underground tunnel system, this project encountered numerous engineering defects, substandard construction quality, and a catastrophic tunnel roof collapse. The budget escalated dramatically from $8 billion to more than $24 billion, and the tunnels continue to face structural challenges, including thousands of leaks and corroded components, raising ongoing concerns about durability and safety.

The company also served as lead engineer for the transportation center in Silver Spring, Maryland, which experienced major delays, cost overruns, and design shortcomings. An independent assessment identified hazards related to falling concrete, requiring extensive redesign and repairs before the facility could become operational.

In Australia, Parsons Brinckerhoff was involved in legal proceedings concerning Sydney’s Lane Cove Tunnel. AMP Capital Investors pursued AUD 144 million over allegations of 'misleading and defective conduct,' with the dispute resolved confidentially in 2014 without any admission of fault.